Oil gauge for automobiles



Oct. 19 1926.

1,603,281 T. E. HEETER l OIL GAUGE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed August 29, 1921 Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,603,281 PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. HEETER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

OIL GAUGE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application 'lled August 29, 1921. Serial No. 496,292.

The advantageous features of the con struction will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

Which- Fig. 1 is a section of an instrument board illustrating the mounting of the illuminative signal for the gauge.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view further illustrating the construction of the illuminative signal.

Fig. 3 is a section of an automobile crank case, illustrating the means whereby the oil level is indicated.

Fig. 4 is a view partially in section of the illuminative signalof the gauge.

Asillustrated in the drawing 1 indicates the crank case of an automobile Vengine which is provided with an oil reservoir compartment having a clean-out plug opening at the bottomt This plug in the construction shown is removed and a tube 2, havv ing a connection 3 is mounted below the voil reservoir of the crank case, the connection 3 screwing into the usual drain opening of the reservoir. The tube 2 has a horizontal branch that develops into an inclined branch, the upper end of said inclined branch supporting at an angle a tube 4. In order to provide'means forremoving accumulation in the tube 2 it is formed with a hollow boss at the base of the angular branch into which isv fitted a screw plug 5.

Into the bottom wall of the tube 4 and mounted in an insulated bushing 6 isa vscrew 7, said screw projecting into the tube 4 to a distance sufficient to make contact 4with a float 8 when the oil, carried in the crank case and communicated to the tube 4, has receded to a predetermined level.

Electrically connected with the screw 7 is an electrical lead 9 so that when the iloat 8 contacts with the inner end of the screw 7 the electrical lead 9 is grounded to complete the light circuit. Obviously, when the -float 8 is elevated by the raising of the lamp oil in the tube 4, the ground circuit from the lead 9 is open.

It will be noted that the screw 7 is adjustable and that the level at which the oil is to stand in the reservoir may be controlled, b v manipulation of said screw; andit will be Afurther noted that the tube 4, which con stitutes the floatchamber, is in an inclined position and that the ioat coming in contact with the end of the screw will seat against the wall of the tube 4 forming a satisfactorv ground contact.

The illumina-tive signal is of special coni struction and is preferably mounted on the instrument board so that it will be readily visible from the operators seat and also that it may be utilized in certain adjustments for illuminating the instruments.

The light comprises a base block 10 of insulating material in which is set spring contact members 11 and 12. The electrical lead 9 is connected with the spring contact member 12 by a binding screw 13 and a lead 14 to the battery is connected-with the contact member 11 by a binding screw15. A socket member 16 for the lamp globe extends around the insulating block l0 and is adapted to receive the globe 17. Over the globe 17 is fitted a. shade member 18 having a tubular extension 19 that fits over the outer surface of the socket and extends backwardly over the rear end of the base block 10. The entire support is connected-with ametallio plate 20,'insulating washers 21 and 22 being disposed on each side ofthe plate to insulate the electrical connections.

On the terminal member 12 is a pin 23 that extends outwardly into a cam slot 24 formed in the wall of the tubular extension 19 of the shade member. By turning the shade member through the action of the pin and cam slot 24, the inner edge of the tubular extension 19 is brought into and out of contact with the metallic plate 20. Thus,

by turning the shade to the position shown lll of the screw 7, the ground circuit throu h the lead 9 is completed, lighting the glo 17, thus indicating to the operator that the oil has receded to the predetermined limit.

When it is desired to use the lamp for illuminating the instruments it is only necessary to turn the shade member, the light being lighted by the grounding of the circuit as heretofore described.

I am aware that the invention may be modified in certain particulars Without departing Jfrom the spirit and scope thereof. I do not limit myself therefore to exact details of construction and arrangement as shown. v

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is :--v

1. A device of the character described comprising an inclined receptacle, an electric circuit terminal extending into the receptacle and being adjustable to terminate at a selected distance above the bottom of the receptacle, and a float member confined Wholly within the receptacle and arranged to contact with and bridge the gap between said terminal member and oneof the adjacent side Walls of said receptacle.

2. In an engine having a crank case arranged to contain oil, a tube communicating with and extending laterally and obliquely upwardly from said crank case, a chamber communicating with and extending obliquely upwardly from the upper end of said tube, an electric circuit terminal member extending upwardly into said chamber and being adjustable to terminate at a selected distance above the bottom of the receptacle, and a spherical float member confined Wholly within said chamber and arranged to contact with and bridge the gap between said terminal member and one ofA the walls of said chamber.

THOMAS n. HEETER. 

